General information about living in Suomenlinna
There are over 350 apartments in Suomenlinna, of which approximately 330 are managed by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna. These apartments are state-owned, non-subsidized rental apartments.
These apartments rarely become available — only a few each year. Apartments are open for applications either after renovation projects are completed or when previous tenants move out. Hardly any new apartments are built in Suomenlinna.
Information about available apartments is posted on this website under [fix the link here]. The apartments are highly sought after, with a large number of applicants competing for each available unit. To ensure fairness, apartments are allocated by a lottery among the applicants. The only restriction concerns the household size relative to the size of the available apartment.
About one-third of the apartments managed by the Governing Body are rented to the Defence Administration as staff housing. The Defence Administration is responsible for selecting tenants for these apartments and does not rent these units to anyone outside its own personnel.
The apartments are listed on the bulletin board in Suomenlinna (C40) and on the agency’s website. The agency does not have a housing queue system.
Selecting Residents
Maintaining a diverse resident structure in Suomenlinna is a key objective. Efforts are actively made to promote housing opportunities for families with children to support the vitality of the community. Additionally, consideration is given to individuals and families whose residence in Suomenlinna is necessary due to the nature of their work or contributes to maintaining the area’s basic service level.
Apartments suitable for families are primarily allocated to larger households.
Rent and rental agreement
The rent for each apartment is always specified during the application process. The rental agreement between the tenant and the Governing Body is made in writing and complies with the Act on Residential Leases (31.3.1995/481).
Apartment Exchanges
The Director of the Governing Body of Suomenlinna decides on apartment exchanges based on proposals submitted by tenants, with recommendations from the property manager. If the sizes of the apartments being exchanged and the residents’ changed housing needs support the exchange, and if the exchange does not result in significant repair costs, such requests are viewed favorably.
Studio Apartments
Suomenlinna has designated studio apartments located in buildings A 5 (apartments E6, F7, F9, F10, G11, and G12), E12 (apartment A1), and B 44–45. The allocation of these studio apartments is decided by the Director of the Governing Body of Suomenlinna. The development manager and the property manager prepare the rental agreements for these studio apartments through a separate application process organized in collaboration with art expert bodies. New rental agreements for studio apartments are made for a fixed term of five years, with a focus on improving the working conditions of creative professionals.
For apartments B 44–45, the Governing Body has granted HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme – the right to manage the application process, as well as the allocation and rental of these studio apartments for the duration of the lease agreement.
Exceptional Allocation
In exceptional cases, an apartment or studio apartment may be allocated without first being publicly listed for application. The reasons for such an exception are recorded in a memorandum. According to the agency’s internal regulations, the property manager may rent out an apartment for up to six months without a formal application process. A justification memorandum is prepared for such decisions.
Isännöinti
Asiakaspalvelu